Transfer dolly and jack



Sept 1936- 0 A. G. HENRICKS 2,053,080

' TRANSFER DOLLY AND JACK Original Filed Aug. 22, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEYS Sept. 1, 1936. v HENRICKS 1 2,053,080

I v TRANSFER DOLLY AND 'JACK Original Filed Aug: 22, 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

A TTORN EYS.

Patented Sept. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF IQE Wis., by First Wisconsin Trust Company, ex-

ecutor, Milwaukee, Wis., .assignor to Harnischfeger Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of'Wisconsin Original application 214,617. Divided August 22, 1927, Serial No. and this application August 20, 1928, Serial No. 300,930

5 Claims. (o1. 254-2) This invention relates to a transfer carriage or dolly and jack adapted for advantageous use in the handling and transporting of various articles and materials. Thus, while :the present embodiment of the invention is especially designed for use in apparatus adapted for handling and storing or parking automobiles it is also adapted for the handling of lumber as well as for other diverse purposes. The present application is a division of the copending application of Arthur G. Henricks for Apparatus for handling and storing, filed August 22, 1927, Serial No. 214,617.

One of the principal objects of the present invention resides in the provision of a dolly and jack of this character in which the dolly or carriage is positively driven by means of a self-contained electric motor drive and in which the jack positively raised and lowered in any position of the dolly or carriage.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel form of jack or hoist alternately raised and lowered upon continued rotation of the electric motor driving the same without the aid of a complicated system of reversing switches, reversing limit switches, or the like. In other words, the electric motor for driving the hoist or jack normally runs in the same direction, although, of course, it may be reversed under abnormal or emergency conditions, but with the motor running in the same direction the jack is alternately raised and lowered. This prevents damage to the jack or hoist in the event the motor should continue to run after the completion of a raising or lowering movement inasmuch as sustained running of the motor will only result in alternate raising or lowering of the jack or hoist.

' Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel controlling means for the jack whereby the jack is automatically stopped at the end of a raising or lowering movement.

Another important object is to provide a device of this character and having these advantages and capacities and which is of simple and durable construction, reliable and effective in operation and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacturc.

In carrying out the present invention a motor driven frame or carriage is provided. On the frame a number of lifting elements are supported for up and down movement. Preferably, the lifting elements are in the form of a pair of bars pivotally connected to the upper ends of link members or frames, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected to crank shafts iourhaled on the frame of the carriage. Means is provided for constraining the lift bars to up and down movement when the crank shafts are rotated and this means may consist of tie bars pivotally connected to the frame and to certain of the link members. The crank shafts are rotated from an electric motor through a, suitable gearing.

The control system for the jack includes a controller having two on positions and a limit switch actuated by one of the crank shafts. When the controller is turned to the -on position for actuating the jack motor to elevate the lift bars the motor continues to run until the jack bars are fully elevated, whereupon the limit switch breaks the motor circuit. To lower the lift bars the controller must be turned to its other on position which causes the motor to run in h same direction to effect lowering of the lift bars. A controller is also provided for the motor which drives the running gear of the carriage. The controllers may be located at some point off of the carriage, or if desired, they may be placed on the carriage.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, and in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view showing a transfer carriage ,or dolly and jack embodying the present invention and associated with apparatus for handling and storing vehicles;

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view ,of the electric controls for the motor circuit of the jack motor; and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation showing one way in which the electric current may be conducted to the transfer carriage.

In the present embodiment of the invention the transfer carriage or dolly and jack is especially designed and adapted for use with apparatus for handling storing automobiles. Such apparatus includes a transfer platform or traveling bridge 5 adapted to be alined with stalls or .compartmonts This apparatus for handling and storing automobiles forms no part of the present invention and is fully shown, described and claimed in the copending application of Arthur G. Hel'lllCkS for Apparatus for handling and storing, filed August 22, 1927, Serial No. 214,617. And reference is made to this copending application for a full disclosure of this handling and storing apparatus.

As indicated, the present invention relates entirely tothe transfer carriage or dolly and jack, one of which is provided on each transfer platform or traveling bridge.

Each transfer carriage or dolly consists of a suitable frame 4 I having axles 42 on which flanged wheels 53 are mounted, the wheels 43 running on the rails 36. For driving the carriage. back and forth one of the axles 42 has a gear wheel 44 fixed thereto, the gear wheel 44 meshing with the pinion 45 fixed to one end of the armature shaft 46 of an electric motor 6'! (see. Figure 1) suitably supported on the frame M of the carriage; The other end of the armature shaft 46 has an electromagnetic brake 18 associated therewith and this electromagnetic brake 48 is of conventional construction, it being designed to be automatically released by an electrcmagnet when the motor 41 is running and yet being automatically set by ,a spring when the electric motor 41 is stopped. Each carriage has a jack or hoist arrangement associated therewith and made up of a pair of lift bars 59' which may be constructed of metal and covered with leather or other suitablecushioning material and which are pivotally mounted as at '59 on the upper ends of link frames 5!, the lower ends of the link frames 5i being pivotally mounted on crank shafts 52 having trunnions 53 journaled in bearings provided therefor in the side members of the. frame 4! (see Figures 2 and 3). Tie bars or tie links 55 are pivotally connected to the. bars 59 and to the adjacent link frame 5| at the pivotal connections 59' of these parts, the tie bars also being pivotally mounted as at 56 on the adjacent end of the frame 4|. These tie. bars constrain the lift bars to up and down movement in a vertical plane.

For the purpose of rotating the crank shafts 52 to raise and lower the lift bars 50, one trunnion 53 of each crank shaft 52 has a worm wheel 51 fixed thereto, the worm wheels 51 meshing with worms 58 fixed on a worm shaft 59. The worm shaft 59 also has a worm wheel fixed thereon and meshing with a worm 6! fixed on one end of an armature shaft 62 of an electric motor 63 supported on frame M as shown in Figure 2. The opposite end of the armature shaft 62 of the motor 193 is equipped with an electromagnetic brake 64 similar to the electromagnetic brake 48.

With this arrangement the motor 63 may be of simple" type of electric motor (such as a series wound direct current motor) which, under normal conditions, constantly turns in the same direction and yet efiects alternate raising and lowering of the lift bars.

' An important advantage of the jack construction resides in the fact that the motor, during the lifting operation, may and does acquire considerable torque before it is subjected to the load, since during the first phases of the movement of the crank shafts the vertical component of their motion is slight and consequently their lift is slight; Moreover, the lift bars do not engage the automobile or other load until moved upwardly slightly. These lift bars 50 are designed to engage under the front axle of an automobile when they are elevated and by virtue of such engagement to lift the front end of the automobile to an extent sufficient to interconnect it with the carriage and provide for its control by the carriage. In other words, the weight of the automobile is arm 85 to engage a contact 85.

is de-energized a spring 86 pulls the arm 82 into taken partly by the bars 58 and partly by the rear wheels of the automobile, the front wheels being lifted up above the runways.

The jack itself possesses inherent features of safety in that even though the motor'or other actuating means therefor run uncontrolled or over a longer period than intended, the jack cannot and will not become stuck or jammed or otherwise injured but would merely raise and lower slowly and smoothly. And the jack is not capable of injuring its associated parts or the articles with which it coacts even though the jack be improperly operated.

The armature of the electric motor 53, under normal conditions, turns in the same direction to effect alternate raising and lowering of the lift bars 50. This motion of the armature shaft 62 is initiated under the manual control of the operator, but the armature shaft is stopped automatically at the end of a raising or lowering movement. In order to provide for this operation of the jack the motor circuit of the electric motor 63 has a contactor designated generally at it, a controller designated generally at H, and a limit switch designated generally at #2 organized therewith, as shown in Figure 4.

sembly made up of a hub 14, a full ring l5 and p a mutilated or half ring 16, the hub l4 being mounted on and secured to an extension of one of the trunnions 53 of one of the crank shafts 52 but being electrically insulated from its trunnion 53 by means of an insulating sleeve 11. The hub M and rings l5 and 19 are of conductive material. Spring fingers 78 and F9 are carried by a bracket 79 mounted on the frame of the carriage and bearing against the rings l5 and '16, respectively (see Figures 1 and 3). a

' The contactor it! includes a contactor coil all and arms 89 and 82 rigidly connected to each other and pivoted as at84. The coil 89 when energized draws the arm 8! to it and causes the engagement with a contact 9'! and simultaneously disengages the arm 85 from'the contact 8'5.

The controller ll has two on positions in either of which the motor 63 is, under normal conditions, rotated in the same direction. As

shown, the controller has contacts 88, 89, 99. 9E, 92, 93, 94, 95, and 96, and two sets of segments designated at 91, 98, 99, let, tel, 882,133, and 91', 98', 99, I09, Hill, H32, and H33, respectively, one set of segments being engaged with the contacts in one on position of the controller and the other set of segments being engaged with the contacts in the other on position of the controller.

A wire I94 which connects with the positive pole of a knife switch J leads to the contact 96 of the controller, this contact 96 being electrically connected with one end of the controller resistance I95. cally connected with the contacts 99 and 96, re-

spectively, the wire let leading to the contact 81 of the contactor l e, while the wire lei! leads to the contact 85 thereof. One terminal of the contactor coil 89 is connected by a wire it?- with the contact 58 of the controller and the other terminal of this coil 99 connects by a wire I 99 with the spring finger iii of the limit switch '52.

"The arms 8! and 82 of the contactor it are connected by a wire M9 to one contact Hi of a reversing switch designated generally at I 12. This When the coil p Wires Hit and Hill are electrireversing switch II? has a companion contact II 3 for the contact IEI and'also has a set of contacts II4 and H5 and switch arms I I8 and II] designed to engage the contacts II4 and II5 orthe contacts HI and 3. A cross wire H8 connects the contacts III and I 45 and a similar wire II 9 connects the contacts H3 and H4. The arm II6 is connected by a wire I28 with a brush III of the armature I22 of the electric motor 83 and the arm i I! is similarly connected by a wire I23 with a brush I24. The contact IIA j'connects by a wire 1'25 with t e field 126. A coil 1 2m h le r ne ake i conn cted in series with the field I 26 and connects by a wire I28 with a common return wire 1 29 which leads back to the negative pole of the knifeswi'tch 'J which connects with the source of current. The contact finger I8 of the limitswitch 7.2 also onnects through a wire"I8' with the common return wire I28. l With the limit switch I2 positioned as shown inFigure 4, and the controller II turned to the on position in which the segments 81, 88, 9: 8, and I00 engage their respective'contacts 88, 8,2, and '93, current flows from the source through the wire I 64 to the contact and thence through the resistance I85 to the contact 83 of es ostroller. From the contact 83, the current passes over to the segment I88 and then flows through Wire 82?, connecting segments I08 with segment a 'jth'rough segment 5E9, contact 82, wire 8W co'n nesting contacts 92 and 9|, contact 9 I, wire connecting contacts SI and 88, wire I88 to the fcoil' 80 of the contactor I8, through the coil to the wire 89, and thence to thefciontact finger I9 of the limit switch I2. The current flows through'the half ring 76, hub 7 4, and full ring 75 of the limit switch to the spring finger I8 and passes from the spring finger l8'to the common return wire I28, through which it flows backto the negative source of current. In this way the coil 88 is energized and the arm 8! is pulled into engagement with the contact 85. Engagement of contacts 8! and 85 completes the motor circuit of the electric motor :88 with the control in position wherein the segments Bl to I03 are engaged with their respective contacts, the current'at this time flowing throughtthe following path, The current flows through the wire I84 to the contact 88, resistance I85 and contact'93 of the controller and passes from the contact 83 to the segment thence through the wi1'e92 segment 88, and contact'82, tothe wire v9P through the wire SI contact QI, and wire 88, to the contact 88. Here the current divides, part passing on through the coil 88, as previously described, and part passing over to the segment 97, and down through the wire 81 to the segment 88 which engages the Contact 98 to permit the current to fiow to this contactand on through the wire III? to the contact'85 'of the contactor. The current then flows through the arm 8| and wire I I8 .to the contact I H of the reversing switch. Leaving contact III the current passes through the wire I I 8, contact I I5, arm .II'I, wire I23, to the brush I24, thence through the armature of the motor and out through the brush I2I, wire I28, arm IIS, contact II4, wire I25, to the field I 2.8. The current traverses the field I26 and then passes through the brake coil I21, and the wire I28 to the common return wire I29. This starts up the motor and the'mo tor continues to move until the half ring I8 moves out of engagement with the spring finger 1 9. Disengagen ent of the half ring 16 and tor ,6 3. This :with the contact 8'! so that the motor circuit may be completed to continue the rotation of the armature in the same direction by turning the controller to its other fon position wherein the ,segments 97' to I83, are engaged with their re- 'spective contacts 88 to 96. With the controller so pcsitioned and the arm 82 engaged with the contact 81 the current flows through the wire I84 to'the contact 96, resistance I 85 and contact 93 of the controller, and thence passes over to the segment I 88, through a wire I88 to the segments and .to the contact 9| engaged therewith. From the contact 8| the current passes through wire 88 to the contact 88 and thence jover to the segment'QT engaged therewith. A wire 98 connects the segment 9? with the segment 98 and the current flows through this wire S8 to the segment 98 and to the contact 89 engaged therewith. Leaving the contact 89 the current passes through a wire I86 to the contact 8? of the contactor and thence through arm 82 and the wire'IIO to the contact III of the reversing switch, from whence flows through the armature I22, field I28, brake coil 42?, wire I28 and common return wire I29 as before. During this operation the contact or coil 88 is not energized as the circuit through the coil is broken through the limit switch "I2 since the spring finger 19 does not engage the half ring I6. This operation continues until the half ring 1,6 again comes into engagement with the spring finger I9'whereuponthe coil 88 is energized to disengage the arr n82 from the contact 81 of the contactor. This breaks the motor circuit for the electric motor 83 but it engages the arm 8! with the contact'85 so that upon shifting the con troller "II to its other on position the motor circuit maybe again made in the manner first described.

The limit switch I2 is designed to permit half revolutions of the crank shafts 52 each time the controller is thrown to the proper on position. This permits alternate raising and lowering movement of the lift bars and while these raisthe arm 82 Figure fl, it will be understood that the controller must be turned to its proper on position to energize the jack motor I53. For instance, if the controlleris turned to the .on position wherein thebontacts88, 89, SI, and 93 engage the segments 87, 98", 89', and I88 while the spring finger T9 engages the half ring "I6 the motor 53 will not he energized because to energize the motor in this position of the controller the motor circuit must be completed in part through the contact 8'! and the arm 82. This cannot occur because the instant that the controller is turned to'the position just described the contactor coil 88 is energized and the arm 82 is swung out of engagement with the contact 8?. As long as the spring finger I9 engages the contact it the jack motor may be energized only by turning the con- 't'roller to engage the contacts 88, 98, Q2, and 93 with the segments 91, 58, 99, and I83. .Qther hand, when the limit switch I2 is so positioned that the spring finger "I9 is disengaged 4- from the half ring 16 then the contactor coil 80 cannot be energized and consequently the circuit for the motor 63 can be completed only by engaging the contacts 88, 89, 9!, and 93 with the segments Bl, err, 99', and Hill. The advantage of this is'that even if the operator inadvertently turns the controller to the wrong position no damage will be incurred and no inappropriate operation will be initiated. In the operation of the jack the reversing switch is left in the position shown in Figure 4 and it is not employed except in an emergency, that is, when it is desirable for one reason or another to interrupt the normal operation and cause the lift bars which have been partially raised to descend or lower before completing the upward movement.

In handling automobiles these lift bars are designed to engage under the front axle and if,

- under unusual circumstances, the carriage is incorrectly positioned with respect to the automobile and the operator starts the elevation of the lift bars before he detects their improper positioning, he can throw the controller to off position, throw the reversing switch H2, and then lower the lift bars. It is not often that the reversing switch will be employed, and in fact, under many circumstances it can be omitted entirely.

It is to be understood that the methodv of wiring illustrated is shown for the purpose of illustration only and various changes, additions, and omissions are contemplated within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

The jack on the carriage is so constructed, organized, driven and controlled that successive reverse manipulations of the controller H causes operation of the electric motor 63 over such periodas to result in alternate raising and lowering of the lift members of the jack.

Sections of the wires rent for the motors ll and 63 is transmitted are embodied in cables 295 trained around rollers or spools 2% and wound on reels 29l and mounted on the carriage and wound up by springs (not shown) to tension the cables and yet permit them to reel out when the carriage moves off of the traveling platform. However, it is to be understood that any appropriate means may be provided for conducting current to the motors of the carriage and for this purpose appropriate contact shoes, mounted on the carriage and incorporated in the motor circuits, may be pro- 7 vided, the contact shoes coacting with electric current supply rails parallelling the track or tracks on which the carriage runs. In fact, any suitable expedient may be resorted to and the usual trolley and trolley wires are contemplated.

Although the traveling platform is always substantially alined with the selected stall or elevator it is difficult to obtain exact alinement in all instances and for the purpose of obtaining a final and substantially exact alinement between the carriage and the selected stall or elevator the carriage 'is provided with a set of guides 30!]. Each set of guides includes a pair of guide members, each of which has a'substantially straight central portion 302, and outwardly inclined end portions 383, the end portions 303 providing outwardly diverging wings. These guides are designed to coact with vertical guide rollers 304 provided on the traveling platform. It is to be noted that the wheels which support the carriage are relatively broad and are flanged at their inner margins only. When the carriage begins to move through which the curoff the platform one or the other of the wings coact with the guide rollers 304 of the platform to center the carriage on the platform. Then as the carriage moves off of the platform its wheels are positioned to engage the bent or curved ends of the rails of the compartment or elevator. In this way such final matching or final alinement as is essential is insured. The flanged wheels 43 are designed to permit the action as will be understood from Figure 1.

When the invention is embodied in an app-aratus for storing and handling vehicles, vehiclesare run into the receiving station which the ground floor of the building provides and are loaded on the elevators and carried to the floor on which they are to be stored. On each floor there is a traveling platform equipped with a carriage and jack for transporting the automobiles to and from the elevators and stalls. The traveling platform is lined up with the elevator which brings the car to the floor and when so lined up the carriage is run off of the platform onto the elevator and when properly positioned under the automobile the jack of the carriage is elevated into engagement with the front axle of the automobile. The carriage is then run back onto the traveling platform and in this way the automobile is taken from the elevator onto the traveling platform. With the automobile properly positioned on the traveling platform the platform is run down the aisle until it is alined with the selected stall whereupon the carriage is run off into the stall to carry the automobile thereinto. With the automobile properly located in the stall the jack is lowered and the carriage with the lowered jack is returned onto the platform.- These operations being partly automatic may be carried out with a great deal of expedition so as to speed up the handling of the automobiles. The automatic features while speeding up the operation in this way also operate as safety features as hereinabove pointed out.

The invention claimed is:

l. A jack comprising a lifting element, means for alternately raising and lowering said lifting means, an electric motor operable in the same rotational direction for driving said means, a controller for said motor having two on positions, a contactor operatively associated with the motor and controller and operable to permit flow of current to the motor in one or the other of the on positions of the controller, and a limit switch operated in synchronisn with the lifting element and coacting with the contactor to shut off the current to the motor automatically at the end of a lifting movement and also at the end of a lowering movement. 2. A jack comprising a lifting element, means for alternately raising and lowering said lifting element, an electric motor operable in the same rotational direction for driving said means, a circuit for said motor, a contactor including contacts incorporated in the motor circuit and arms cooperable with the contacts, means for biasing one of the arms to engage other arm to disengage its contact, a contactor coil operable when energized to reverse the position of said arms, a circuit for the contactor coil, a limit switch embodied in the contactor coil circult, and a controller having two on positions and incorporated in the motor circuit and in the contactor coil circuit.

3. In a motor driven transfer carriage of the character described, comprising spaced crank its contact and the" shafts rotatably mounted on said carriage, a pair of spaced lifting bars positioned above the crank shafts, link members pivotally connected to the crank shafts and pivotally connected to the lifting bars, means constraining the lifting bars to raising and lowering movement, a motor mounted on the transfer carriage and gearing between the motor and the crank shafts for rotating the same in one direction and thereby causing the lifting bars to alternately raise and lower.

4. In a motor driven transfer carriage of the character described, comprising a pair of longitudinally extending and transversely spaced lifting bars disposed substantially horizontally and adjacent the top of the transfer carriage when in the lowermost position, crank shafts rotatably mounted on the transfer carriage below and adjacent the end portions of the lifting bars, links extending upwardly from the crank shafts and pivotally connected thereto and to the lifting bars, tie links between the frame and the lifting bars for constraining the lifting bars to raising and lowering movement, and means carried by the carriage and connected to the crank shafts to rotate the same in one direction thereby causing the lifting bars to raise and lower.

5. In a motor driven transfer carriage of the character described, comprising a pair of longitudinally extending and transversely spaced lifting bars disposed substantially horizontally and adjacent the top of the transfer carriage when in the lowermost position, crank shafts rotatably mounted on the transfer carriage below and adjacent the end portions of the lifting bars, links extending upwardly from the crank shafts and pivotally connected thereto and to the lifting bars, tie links between the frame and the lifting bars for constraining the lifting bars to raising and lowering movement, a motor mounted on the carriage in between the crank shafts, a worm shaft driven from the motor and extending longitudinally of the carriage, worms on said worm shaft and worm wheels meshed with the worms and fixed to the crank shafts.

FIRST WISCONSIN TRUST COMPANY, Executor of the Estate of Arthur G. Hem-icks,

Deceased. By W. I. EARTH,

Secretary. 

